MEDIA NOTE: For more info and photos, contact Denise Wagner at Wonders of Wildlife museum, official home of National Hunting and Fishing Day, at nhfday@wondersofwildlife.org or 203-241-4468.

NHF Day Welcomes Sportsman Channel

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.—National Hunting and Fishing Day is proud to announce renewed sponsorship for 2010 by the only television channel with 24/7 programming for hunters, shooters and anglers—Sportsman Channel.

NHF Day is set for Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010.

Congress formalized the annual commemoration in 1972 as a public reminder that conservation depends on funding and leadership from Americans who participate in traditional outdoor sports. Through licenses and special taxes, hunters, shooters and anglers provide most of the program funding for state conservation agencies today. In turn, results benefit all citizens who appreciate healthy fish, wildlife and habitat.

As part of its sponsorship, Sportsman Channel will help build pride and appreciation for traditional outdoor sports by airing PSAs and encouraging participation nationwide via its social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and Camospace.

“What we enjoy most about National Hunting and Fishing Day is encouraging our viewers to get outside—and to take someone new to the outdoors with them,” said Todd Hansen, senior vice president of Sportsman Channel. “There are so many opportunities with this event and our entire staff looks forward to supporting it every year.”

Sponsorships support Wonders of Wildlife museum, the official home of NHF Day in Springfield, Mo. The facility is developing NHF Day event planning tools, educational handouts, promotional items, PSAs, communications initiatives and more.

Denise Wagner of Wonders of Wildlife said, “We’re pleased that so many of our sponsors support our efforts year after year, and none have been more dedicated than Sportsman Channel. This network understands that its audience is rightly proud of its outdoor heritage—and that the NHF Day story deserves to be told year-round. We’re better able to do that because of Sportsman Channel.”

The entire USA Shooting Team is serving as honorary chair for NHF Day 2010. With 103 Olympic medals for rifle, pistol and shotgun marksmanship, the U.S. excels in few sports more than shooting. Only track and field, swimming, diving, wrestling and boxing have been more prolific medal producers for Americans. In fact, shooting ranks ahead of gymnastics, figure skating, volleyball and more than 30 other Olympic sports. Most members of the current USA Shooting Team are active hunters and anglers, blending a passion for the outdoors with winning on the world stage.

The growing list of sponsors for NHF Day 2010 includes Wonders of Wildlife, NSSF, Bass Pro Shops, Smith & Wesson, Sportsman Channel, Realtree, Cabela’s, GunBroker.com, Yamaha, Pope and Young Club and Izaak Walton League of America.